VSAM Utility screen

The upper half of the VSAM Utility screen lists the utility options and the lower half lets you specify data set and catalog information.

VSAM Utility screen

Field Descriptions

OPTION

To select a VSAM option, enter one of the following option codes in this field:

A

Allocate VSAM cluster. Specify a cluster name or IAM dataset name in the Dataset name field and, optionally, the name of an existing data set in the Model dataset name field (see Allocate Cluster (A)).

When using the Allocate VSAM cluster option, follow your installation’s VSAM dataset rules.

S

Allocate VSAM dataspace. Specify a value in the Volume serial field (see Allocate Dataspace (S)).

X

Allocate alternate index. Specify a cluster name in the Dataset name field and, optionally, the name of an existing data set in the Model dataset name field (see Allocate Alternate Index (X)).

B

Build alternate index. Specify an alternate index name in the Dataset name field (see Build Alternate Index (B)).

BLANK

Display data set information. Specify a dataset name in the Dataset name field (see Display VSAM Information (BLANK)).

D

Delete data set. Specify a dataset name in the Dataset name field (see Delete Dataset (D)).

DR

Delete/Define data set. Specify a dataset name in the Dataset name field (see Delete/Define (DR)).

T

Delete VSAM dataspace. Specify a value in the Volume serial field and the name of the owning catalog in the Catalog name field (see Delete Dataspace (T)).

P

Allocate path. Specify a path name in the Dataset name field (see Allocate Path (P)).

R

Rename component. Specify a dataset name in the Dataset name field (see Rename Component (R)).

M

Modify component. Specify a cluster name in the Dataset name field (see Modify Component (M)).

The Display data set information, Rename component, and Delete Dataset options can be used online on data sets of all access methods. All other online options can be used only on VSAM datasets. Only VSAM, GDG Base, and IAM data sets can be processed in batch from the VSAM utility.

Specify Dataset Information:

Dataset name

Specify the cluster name. In the case of allocate (cluster, alternate index, or path), specify the new cluster name. See VSAM data set naming conventions.

Pattern dataset names are supported for options B, BLANK, D, DR, R, and M. You can enter a pattern dataset name in this field to display a list of data sets from which you can make a selection. A pattern dataset name or mask consists of explicit characters or a combination of explicit and pattern characters. See the section entitled “Pattern data set names” in the File-AID/MVS Online Reference Manual for a complete description.

Volume serial

Specify the volume serial of the direct access device that contains the data set. File-AID displays an error message when the Volume serial field and the Catalog name fields both contain data.

Process Online or Batch

Specify a processing value: O (Online), B (Batch) or F (Formatted Batch). See Online Processing and Batch Processing for Batch and Formatted Batch.

Specify Model Dataset Information:

Dataset name

(Optional) Specify the name of an existing data set in this field to have File-AID copy the allocation attributes from the model data set. The model data set must be cataloged and must be accessible through a normal catalog search. You can enter a pattern dataset name in this field to display a list of data sets from which you can make a selection. A pattern dataset name or mask consists of explicit characters or a combination of explicit and pattern characters. See the section entitled “Pattern data set names” in the File-AID/MVS Online Reference Manual for a complete description.

When a model dataset name is specified, the attributes of the model data set are displayed on the dataset allocation screen. As in the File-AID Dataset utility, the model data set can be of any access method; it need not be a VSAM dataset.

Specify Catalog to use if other than Default System Catalog:

Catalog name

Specify a catalog name to override the default system catalog. This catalogs the data set in a catalog not connected to the master catalog through the high-level index name.

File-AID displays an error message when the Volume serial field and the Catalog name fields both contain data.

Catalog password

Specify the password if the catalog is password protected.

VSAM data set naming conventions

Like ISPF, when a data set name is typed within single quotes ( ' ' ), File-AID uses the name exactly as entered. When a data set name is entered without single quotes, the TSO prefix is concatenated to the beginning of the entered name. File-AID carries this convention further when VSAM clusters are allocated.

File-AID creates VSAM data set names from both user-defined values and from values set at product installation time. File-AID creates the levels of qualifiers of a VSAM data set as follows:

• The high-level qualifier is generated from the system value set when File-AID is installed.
• The second-level qualifier is generated from the value specified in the VSAM Intermediate Name field on the System Parameters screen. See System parameters. When an unqualified dataset name is entered in this field, the fully qualified value is created by concatenating the VSAM high-level name, VSAM intermediate name, and unqualified name. Any value of up to 19 characters is allowed for the VSAM intermediate name.
• The lower-level qualifiers are generated from the value entered in the Dataset name field of the VSAM Utility screen. For example, if you enter:

in the Dataset name field, and the VSAM Intermediate Name field contains a value of TSOID01, and the system VSAM high-level qualifier is ABC, File-AID creates a VSAM cluster name of: ABC.TSOID01.NEW.VSAM.

Online Processing

When processing the VSAM utility online (O for Process Online or Batch) and the appropriate field values are entered, File-AID redisplays the VSAM Utility screen with a message confirming task completion. If the function fails, File-AID displays an error message in the upper-right corner of the IDCAMS Functions Display screen, as shown in the following figure.

IDCAMS Function Display Screen

Use the VIEW primary command to browse the IDCAMS control cards and error messages, as shown in the following figure.

IDCAMS Error Message Display Screen

Batch Processing

When Batch (B for Process Online or Batch) processing is specified and you have completed all appropriate field entries, press Enter and File-AID displays the JCL Specification Screen, as shown in the following figure.

JCL Specification Screen

On the JCL Specification screen you can enter the following commands:

JCL

File-AID generates the JCL to process the job and displays the Generated JCL screen, as shown in the following figure.

SUBMIT

SUBMIT primary command to submit the batch job.

END

Use the END command (PF3) to terminate the current request.

Generated JCL Edit Screen

The generated JCL can be edited, submitted, and saved for later execution or re-execution.